Umbrella with off-centered canopy

Abstract

An umbrella having a shaft assembly that includes a lower shaft, an upper shaft, an offset hinge assembly disposed between the lower and upper shafts, and a handle is provided. The umbrella also includes a canopy assembly with a plurality of extendable ribs operatively disposed between the distal end of the upper shaft and the runner. The canopy is operatively disposed over the ribs and affixed to a distal end of the upper shaft and the runner wherein the offset hinge assembly is adapted to be selectively positioned in a stowed position in which said canopy can be opened and closed, and in a deployed position in which said open canopy is offset from said handle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An umbrella, comprising:
 a shaft assembly, comprising:
 a lower shaft; 
 an upper shaft; 
 an offset hinge assembly disposed therebetween; and, 
 a handle; 
 
 a canopy assembly, comprising:
 a runner slidingly disposed on said shaft assembly; 
 a plurality of extendable ribs operatively disposed between said distal end of said upper shaft and said runner; and, 
 a canopy operatively disposed over said ribs and affixed to a distal end of said upper shaft; 
 
 wherein said offset hinge assembly is adapted to be selectively positioned in a stowed position in which said canopy can be opened and closed, and in a deployed position in which said open canopy is offset from said handle; and, 
 wherein said offset hinge assembly further comprises a deployed securing mechanism for securing said offset hinge assembly in said deployed position, comprising:
 a spring stop; 
 a first tab stop; and, 
 a second tab stop; 
 wherein said spring stop operatively extends from said lower shaft and engages said first tab stop when said offset hinge assembly is moved to said deployed position; and, 
 wherein said second tab stop engages and drives said spring stop into said lower shaft when said offset hinge assembly is moved to said stowed position. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein said canopy further comprises a plurality of umbrella tips disposed at a circumferential perimeter thereof, wherein each of said tips are adapted to individually engage a distal end of one of said ribs. 
     
     
       3. The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein said offset hinge assembly further comprises:
 a first bar pivotally attached to said lower shaft at a first lower end and pivotally attached to said upper shaft at a first upper end; 
 a second bar pivotally attached to said lower shaft at a second lower end and pivotally attached to said upper shaft at a second upper end; and, 
 a return spring attached at a first end to said first bar and at a second end to said second bar; 
 wherein said return spring provides a mechanical dampening during movement of said offset hinge assembly from said stowed position to said deployed position. 
 
     
     
       4. The umbrella of  claim 1 , further comprising a stowed securing mechanism for securing said offset hinge assembly in said stowed position. 
     
     
       5. The umbrella of  claim 4 , wherein said stowed securing mechanism further comprises a spring plunger assembly, comprising:
 a spring plunger aperture disposed in said upper shaft; 
 a plunger ball operatively disposed and captured within said aperture; 
 a spring disposed within said aperture and adapted to operatively engage said ball; and, 
 a retainer depression disposed in said first bar; 
 wherein said spring is adapted to cause said ball to partially extend from said aperture and engage said retainer depression. 
 
     
     
       6. The umbrella of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring lock disposed in said upper shaft adapted to selectively engage said runner and lock said runner and said canopy assembly in said open position. 
     
     
       7. An umbrella, comprising:
 a lower shaft; 
 an upper shaft; 
 an offset hinge assembly having a first bar and a second bar, each said bar disposed between said upper and said lower shaft; 
 a handle; and, 
 a canopy operatively affixed to a distal end of said upper shaft; 
 wherein said offset hinge assembly is adapted to be selectively positioned in a stowed position in which said first and said second bars are in alignment with said upper and said lower shafts; 
 wherein said offset hinge assembly is adapted to be selectively positioned in a deployed position in which said first and said second bars are perpendicular to said upper and said lower shaft and said canopy is offset from said handle; and, 
 wherein said offset hinge assembly further comprises a deployed securing mechanism for securing said offset hinge assembly in said deployed position, comprising:
 a spring stop disposed within said lower shaft; 
 a first tab stop disposed upon said first bar; and, 
 a second tab stop disposed upon said second bar; 
 wherein said spring stop operatively extends from said lower shaft and engages said first tab stop when said offset hinge assembly is moved to said deployed position; and, 
 wherein said second tab stop engages and drives said spring stop into said lower shaft when said offset hinge assembly is moved to said stowed position. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The umbrella of  claim 7 , wherein said offset hinge assembly further comprises:
 said first bar is pivotally attached to said lower shaft at a first lower end and pivotally attached to said upper shaft at a first upper end; 
 said second bar is pivotally attached to said lower shaft at a second lower end and pivotally attached to said upper shaft at a second upper end; and, 
 a return spring attached at a first end to said first bar and at a second end to said second bar; 
 wherein said return spring provides a mechanical dampening during movement of said offset hinge assembly from said stowed position to said deployed position. 
 
     
     
       9. The umbrella of  claim 7 , further comprising a stowed securing mechanism for securing said offset hinge assembly in said stowed position. 
     
     
       10. The umbrella of  claim 9 , wherein said stowed securing mechanism further comprises a spring plunger assembly comprising:
 a spring plunger aperture disposed in said upper shaft; 
 a plunger ball operatively disposed and captured within said aperture; 
 a spring disposed within said aperture and adapted to operatively engage said ball; and, 
 a retainer depression disposed in said first bar; 
 wherein said spring is adapted to cause said ball to partially extend from said aperture and engage said retainer depression. 
 
     
     
       11. The umbrella of  claim 7 , further comprising a spring lock disposed in said upper shaft adapted to selectively engage said runner and lock said runner and said canopy assembly in said open position.